The city of Nashville is set to host 12 consecutive Southeastern Conference basketball tournaments starting in 2015, the conference announced on Tuesday.
The new deal will include nine men's tournaments and three women's tournaments.
Nashville will host the men's tournament from 2015-17, 2019-21 and 2023-25, with the women's tournament being held in the years in between (2018, 2022, 2026).
"The entire Nashville community is honored to be named as the host city for the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament and have the opportunity to continue to host the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament during the next 12 years,” Nashville Sports Council President & CEO Scott Ramsey said. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with the SEC and ESPN to create a showcase event for SEC basketball teams, coaches and fans."
The league's athletics directors voted to explore a primary site for the men's tourney.
“Nashville has long been a valued partner of the Southeastern Conference and we are pleased to establish this long-term agreement that will benefit our men’s and women’s basketball tournaments,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. “Nashville, as a proven host, provides SEC teams and fans with a wonderful experience.”
The arena has hosted the SEC men's tourney four previous years: 2001, 2006, 2010 and 2013.
The Kentucky Wildcats have claimed a record 27 SEC tournament titles since 1933, followed by Alabama (6), Tennessee (4), Mississippi State (3) and Florida (3). Ole Miss captured the 2013 tourney title over Florida, winning 66-63 behind the scoring efforts of Marshall Henderson.
Tennessee leads all SEC women's basketball programs with 16 conference titles.
As noted by The Tennessean, The 2015, 2016 and 2019 conference tournaments were already slated for Nashville, but it looks like the 2014 edition in Atlanta will be the last one outside the state of Tennessee for the foreseeable future.
